“She lives? Sweet Achrolese, she lives?”
“Get a hold of yourself, Commander. We did not know what happened in the dungeon that night. Whoever used the Deathbane there was warded so that the identity could not be revealed. She could have been one of its victims, for Deathbane doesn’t leave even the corpses behind to count. We know now that she wasn’t killed that night. The Sleepwalker has her.”
The sound of liquid sloshing and spilling.
“Get her,” Tsyrke said, his voice likely to snap with its tautness. “Topple every stone in Castun if you must. I want her back.”
“Surely the Sleepwalker would have anticipated that,” the ageless one said.
“I want her back!”
“Tsyrke—listen to me. You’ve been deep in your cups since that night. You must listen to me, my friend. Listen to my counsel.”
“No! I’ve listened all my life and look where it’s brought me! You Sorian have ice instead of blood. I loved her, ban you! I was willing to throw this all to the winds for her. I won’t lose her again. If I must, I’ll ride there myself…”
“Then you will hang from a tree like your grandfather did. Sending the priest was an invitation to negotiate. The Sleepwalker wants to speak with us. Perhaps he knows about your intention to betray Ballinaire. If he has the girl, it’s possible she told him about your last conversation. Be wise, my friend. No more mead. You need to keep your wits. You need to start thinking again instead of drowning the hurt. She’s alive. Our plan can still work.”
Tsyrke took several shuddering breaths. Exeres winced at the sound of it.
“You’re right.” He sounded defeated. “Somehow you are always right, Mage. I’ll…I need some time to think. Send the priest back to the prisons to help with the healing. When I see Ballinaire tomorrow, I’ll tell him that the Zerites have sent someone to help the wounded. In a few days, I’ll tell him that I want to send the priest back to Isherwood for more help.”
“There you are, my friend. You’re starting to think clearly already. Be patient. This works to both our advantages. The Sleepwalker obviously survived his encounter with Miestri. That bodes well to have him as an ally.”
“I’ll send someone to drag the healer to a bed. Make him forget the encounter with us. Make him think he hasn’t delivered the message yet and let him remember in a day or two. We can then send him back to Castun with our answer.”
“Of course, my friend. I can make him remember anything.”
*
"Despite what the old one said, I remembered,” Exeres whispered to Flent, squinting over the fading bruise. “I don’t remember where they took me or when, only that I woke up this morning with a headache and no memory of how I had come to sleep on a pallet in the barracks. But I remember the conversation, as clear and sharp as anything. I think it was Jaerod, somehow. But when he pulled away, I couldn’t hear a thing anymore.”
“Sleepwalkers have strange ways,” Flent said. “Ever since I met him, I’ve always known he was coming before I saw him. They’re peculiar folk. That juttleberry you gave me last night…it worked its own magic. I’ve been able to stand up for the first time in a while today. Still a little shaky, but I feel my strength coming back.”
Exeres nodded and handed over a small bundle of juttleberries. “Eat one of these every day. It will help prevent the tide fever from returning. The prison master wants you in the shovel crews.” He then handed over a little bag. “Sprinkle a little of this on your bread, and you won’t be smelling anything for a while. Do the work, though. It will help you regain your strength.” He looked over his shoulder to make sure that Nool wasn’t standing at the cell door. “Does Tsyrke know you’re here?”
Flent shrugged and wiped some of the grime from his eyes. “I don’t think so. I haven’t seen him.”
“I’ll see if I can convince him to set you free. I’d like to bring you back to Castun with me.”
The Drugaen gripped Exeres’ hand and squeezed hard. “I’d like that. If you can’t, then you tell Stasy that I’m okay. I’ll find my own way out. Nool’s big, but I could drop him to the gutter if I had my hands on a shovel.”
“You’re conspicuous, Flent. It would be hard sneaking around in the dark. You stand out.”
“I can see pretty banned good in the dark, Exeres. But I’d rather go with you.”
“I’ll try. Keep up your strength. I’d better go before Nool gets too suspicious.” He rose and went to the door and whistled for the prison master.
“Hey!” Flent said, hushing him. “You seen a Shae down here? There’s one that came with us down to Landmoor. He’s got hair the same color as yours. No eyepatch though. Blue robes…like a priest’s. His name is Justin.”
“No, but I’ll keep working the hall. What’s his name again?”